About Us

About Playscapes Scotland

Scotland's specialist playground design, supply & installation contractor creating outstanding outdoor environments.

Craftsmanship · Community · Sustainability · Innovation

Who we are

Playscapes Scotland is Scotland's specialist playground design, supply & installation contractor — designing, specifying and installing playgrounds, outdoor learning zones and community play spaces across Scotland.

We are play specialists first. Landscaping, civils and surfacing sit in support of that — so schools, councils and communities get environments children actually use, not equipment dropped on tarmac.

Our team brings 30+ years in construction and 19+ years in play — from nurseries and primary schools to neighbourhood parks, housing landscapes and public realm schemes.

Clients work with people who understand supervision, inclusion, inspection and maintenance — grounded in trust, craftsmanship and accountable delivery from first brief to handover.

Experience & reach

From early years and schools to housing, public realm and community-led projects, we bring a Scotland-wide mindset — access constraints, weather, and local authority processes included.

Our work is relevant wherever outdoor space must earn its keep: inclusion, supervision, maintenance and long-term usability are part of the same brief as aesthetics and play value.

Vision & Mission

Our vision is to be Scotland’s most trusted playground design and installation partner — recognised for outstanding outdoor environments and the people behind them.

Our mission is to design and build outdoor environments that inspire imagination, encourage play and bring communities together.

Core values

Our brand is built on four pillarsCraftsmanship, Community, Sustainability and Innovation — the same language we use across the site and in client conversations.

Craftsmanship

Quality, detail and build standards that respect how schools and public spaces are used every day.

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Community

Inclusive, people-first places — designed for real routines, supervision and shared ownership.

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Sustainability

Long-term thinking in materials, stewardship and environmental responsibility aligned to client priorities.

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Innovation

Design-led solutions and modern methods — creative outdoor environments without losing buildability.

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Outdoor play and landscape works in progress Scotland-wide delivery

Film

Who we are and what we build.
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Why clients choose us

  • Creative but credible project thinking
  • Proven delivery across schools and local authorities
  • High-quality construction with long-term usability
  • Transparent communication at every stage
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Our team

The people behind the projects

Outdoor projects succeed on trust. We put experienced people in front of clients — so you know who is accountable before the first digger arrives.

Dougie Smith, Managing Director of Playscapes Scotland

Leadership

Dougie

Managing Director

Dougie founded Playscapes Scotland on three decades in construction and nearly twenty years specialising in play. He leads design, specification and site delivery — working directly with head teachers, council officers and community groups from first site walk to handover.

What clients get

A managing director who still thinks in setting-out, surfacing falls and inspection routines — not just catalogue layouts. Dougie holds the relationships with manufacturers, frameworks and site teams so one brief does not get lost between office and digger.

  • 30+ years construction & site leadership
  • 19+ years playground design, supply & installation
  • CITB-supported training & site safety culture
  • Scotland Excel maintenance framework capability
Meet Dougie — Managing Director
Playscapes Scotland teams delivering play, surfacing and community projects on site

Design & delivery team

Play layouts & project leadership

Project leads translate briefs into buildable play schemes — age-banded challenge, fall zones, surfacing, drainage and the maintenance story estates teams need before sign-off.

Experienced in school, council and housing programmes — with documentation, staging and client updates that keep term-time and framework governance on track.

Site & installation team

Craftsmanship on site

Qualified installers who treat surfacing, foundations and equipment setting as seriously as the play value itself — built for Scottish weather and daily footfall.

Site supervisors coordinate civils, play equipment and handover photography so clients see what was built, where, and how to look after it.

Client & community liaison

Engagement & communication

Clear, staged updates for schools, residents and council officers — so people know what is happening, when access changes and how to raise questions safely.

Supports community engagement, consultation summaries and handover packs that help groups own the finished space.